October 1998-November 1998

Rachel tried to stay out of Ross' way. He was constantly calling Emily, constantly trying to figure out a way back to her and as the days passed, the calls were becoming more and more consistent. Finally in October, Ross had apparently reached Emily and while Rachel wasn't sure how much she wanted to know all the details, she knew Emily was asking for Ross to change a lot. Emily wanted Ross to move, sell his things and he was doing it, Rachel did think Emily was going a little too extreme but she decided to not say a thing. After all, she had done enough, but then came Emily's final ultimatum.

"She doesn't want you to see me anymore?" Rachel asked, staring at him after he had broken the news as he sat at the kitchen table across from her. She wasn't sure how to comprehend it, if she should cry, yell, scream. "But we're not together."

"I know, I know, Rachel….I told her...I just….I don't know..I need to save my marriage. I need-"

"You already told her yes, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry."

"Wow."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Say the right name at your wedding."

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do?"

Rachel had to leave, it was too much, " I'm gonna go."

"It's your apartment."

"I'm gonna go anyway," Rachel said as she got up, grabbed her purse and walked out the door in a daze.

How could all this happen? Was this all her fault? Maybe she would have to leave the group? With every step she took, the worse she felt. She would have to leave, there was no other option for her. She walked into Central Perk and saw the rest of them. Her heart broke a little when she saw them as she plopped down.

"So….Ross told me. Emily doesn't want him near me?" Rachel asked. "I mean….I-"

"Rach-" Phoebe tried.

"I'm gonna have to leave the group. I'm gonna be Kip," Rachel said.

"You are not going to be Kip," Phoebe said.

Rachel knew some of the stories of Kip. She knew Monica and Kip had dated. She knew they broke up and that suddenly they stopped being friends with him.

"Yeah, but...Chandler, you told me you flew a toy plane at Kip's head," Rachel said.

"I'm not going to do that to you. Rachel, it's different now. I swear," Chandler said. "Besides...Joey broke my plane. He flew it into a tree."

"Dude, get over it," Joey argued.

"No," Chandler said, giving Joey a look.

"Look, Rach...we're older now. We did handle that all wrong. We were young and...he dumped Monica on New Years Eve and-" Phoebe said.

"Why did Kip get fazed out in the first place? Is was because Monica and Kip broke up, right?" Rachel asked, cutting Phoebe off. Was there more to this story?

"Tell her," Monica said, looking at Chandler.

"You can't tell me what to do," Chandler said.

"Yes, I can," Monica said.

"What is wrong with you two?" Phoebe asked.

"Nothing," both said together. Rachel gave Phoebe a confused look. Monica and Chandler had just returned work trips and were now apparently fighting. Part of her wanted to ask more questions, but a bigger part of her wanted to deal with what was happening….with her having to leave.

"Wait...tell me what?" Rachel asked.

Chandler sighed, "I told Kip that...that I liked Monica. I'm not fond of her now-"

"Bite me," Monica said.

"Yeah, I would but you'd probably make me do it ten times before I got it right," Chandler said, glaring at her. Monica glared right back.

"Guys...what-," Joey said.

"Nothing," the two said again.

"Chandler," Rachel said, wanting to get back on track. She'd ask more questions later.

"Okay, I told Kip that I liked Monica and then Kip started to date her. I was kinda mad at Kip. He wasn't fazed out just because Monica and Kip broke up."

"Yeah, 'cause G-d knows I wish I had that kind of power...you know, to have all my friends faze out whoever pisses me off," Monica said.

"Can we get back to me, please?" Rachel asked.

"Look, okay...Rach, I fazed out Kip because I was never close with him. I was closer with Chandler and Monica so I automatically sided with them. I'm closer to you than Ross. You're not getting fazed out," Phoebe said.

"It's just...ugh, I hate this," Rachel said. "I'm gonna go. I have to...this is awful."

"Rach," Phoebe said.

"No, I have to go shopping," Rachel said, getting up and walking out of Central Perk. She needed to shop again. She needed to go somewhere, anywhere. She walked in and out of her favorite stores, trying on outfits, buying clothes. She thought again of perhaps going back to Greece? Or she could try other places in the US. Bloomingdales was also in Los Angeles, they had offices there. She could put in a transfer. Los Angeles was nice, warm. She could go to the beach and she could make new friends. Sure, she really hadn't made any other friends other than the five of them since she had moved to the city, but truthfully, she never saw a need. Now there was a need….

When she finally arrived back at the apartment, she noticed a familiar face. He was cute and she recognized him, Danny. A few days earlier, before Monica had left on her work trip, they had gone into the storage area off the building to get a waffle iron and instead got spooked when they were approached by a scary looking guy who looked like a Yeti, so Rachel fogged him with bug spray.

"Danny?" Rachel asked.

"Hmmm….hey," Danny said, giving her a look.

"You shaved your beard."

"I had to. Had to get the bug spray out."

"Sorry."

"It's alright….hey, you know, I'm hungry. You wanna get pizza?" Danny asked. That seemed a little bit forward but then again, she wasn't quite ready to head up to her apartment just yet.

"Yeah, I-sure."

Danny walked off and Rachel followed. He was interesting, Danny. She had never met anyone quite like him. He was weirdly direct and honest when they spoke. He had just come back from some big hiking trip. He was definitely far more activity-oriented than she was. He was different, very different and maybe that was what she needed.

When she got back to the apartment, the rest of the group was there, eating. Rachel and Ross exchanged an uncomfortable look before she headed towards her room despite pleas from the rest of them that she stay.

"Emily would be furious if she knew I was here," Rachel said.

"I'll take the fall for it," Chandler said. "It's partially a dinner for me."

"You?" Rachel asked, confused.

"He's been clean for twenty months, we all forgot," Phoebe said.

Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth. In the midst of all the drama, she had forgotten that. How could she have forgotten that?

"Oh, my G-d," Rachel said, "I forgot too. Chandler, I'm so proud of you. I wish I had bought you something. Do you like capri pants?"

"Shockingly enough... no, seriously, Rachel, I want you here. If Emily finds out then I will explain it to her," Chandler said.

Rachel let out a sigh and nodded her head. She walked towards Chandler and gave him a hug. The good times did not last though as the phone soon rang and it was Emily. They had tried to play it off that Rachel wasn't with them, but Ross gave up and told Emily that Rachel was with them. Emily did not sound too pleased.

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Chandler asked after Ross had taken Emily off speaker phone to talk to her.

"No, man. I'm not-this isn't your battle. You already fought yours. Twenty months ago. This should be your night and I don't want you taking the fall for this," Ross said as he grabbed the phone and walked out on to the balcony only to come back with the news that his short-lived marriage was indeed over.

Rachel woke up in a tangle of blankets on the couch. Her head was on Joey's stomach and her feet were on Phoebe. After Emily had decided to divorce Ross, a group sleepover was decided upon. Chandler got the movies and they watched all the Die Hards and fell asleep. She woke and saw Ross sitting alone on the balcony. She carefully moved herself off the couch and grabbed a blanket. She walked towards the window and stepped out onto the balcony. It was definitely getting cold out.

"Ross?"

"Hey," he said and quickly wiped something away from his face. She slowly approached him and placed the blanket around both of them.

"Are you crying?" Rachel asked.

"I am twenty-nine and I have been divorced twice. I mean, what the hell?"

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have gone to London. I should have stayed with Phoebe, if I hadn't gone-"

"I probably still would have said your name. This isn't your fault, this is mine."

"Can I say something? I also think it's Emily's."

"What?"

"I mean, okay...you should not have said my name but if she was this pissed off to give you all these ultimatums and refuse to even come out here and….why the hell did she say 'I do'. I mean, I at least ran out of my wedding before I said 'I do'. I didn't put Barry through marrying him and then divorcing him. I think what Emily did was awful. Yes, say the right name...but come on, don't….what she put you through-"

"She had the right to be pissed."

"Yes, she did….don't say 'I do'."

"Yeah….and Rach, I wouldn't have cut you out. I could never do that."

"You were gonna try."

"It wouldn't have lasted. I need you in my life, Green."

"Same here….we can't get enough of each other."

"Do you think we will ever get us right?"

"I don't know. Not now, though but I do love you Ross. I love you a lot and I'm sorry."

"You got a trip to Greece. How was that trip, really?"

"Well, it sucked at first….I spent most of the time sobbing by the pool, but the last day was good, the last night was really good."

Ross gave her look, "what was his name?"

"Adonis."

"Of course it was."

Rachel giggled, "what? He showed me Greece. I'm part Greek."

"You're Jewish."

"I can be both. I have Greek relatives. So there, ha and Adonis was a gentleman and he was….so nice."

"You really are a slut," Ross teased which made Rachel laugh. Only Ross could call her that.

"I think I kind of am. I spent a long time trying to fight that, but yeah….I think I just might be."

Ross laughed as he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close to him. She smiled, resting against him. She truly adored those moments with Ross. Everyone saw the drama, but they had moments like this.

"Well, you are my favorite slutty cheerleader."

"Well, you, my friend, are my favorite Dino Divorcer."

"That sounds like I married and divorced a dinosaur. Maybe….wait, what do you call Chandler?"

"Prince Loser…..oh, Ross, the Divorce Boss."

"We will have to discuss….what do you think will look best on a t-shirt?"

"Not sure. You would marry a dinosaur though."

"I would not."

"Yes, you would. If given a choice between Uma Thurman and a T-Rex, who would you marry?"

"Uma….A T-Rex has some severe attitude problems," Ross said which made Rachel laugh. "Honestly, Rach...I'm glad you ended up having a good time in Greece."

"Adonis and I did it in every spot of that honeymoon suite."

"Good for you…..his name really was Adonis?"

"Yep."

"Is he coming to visit?"

"Nope."

"You know, the closer we get, the more I think that you may have out crazed Chandler during the six years you weren't friends with us."

"I was in a serious relationship for six years."

"Still think you have some stories you haven't told us."

Rachel merely grinned and gave a little shrug. She wouldn't tell, at least not now. Now, she just wanted to be near him. They held each other closer as they continued standing on the balcony. Maybe their dating relationship would forever be confusing but at least they would always have their friendship.

It pained Rachel to see Ross' life start spinning out of control. Soon after Emily decided on the divorce, Ross ended up moving into Chandler and Joey's apartment. He was often angry and ended up being put on sabbatical, she wished she knew how to help. She wished she could say something or do something. She tried to turn to Monica, but Monica was also acting strange as was Chandler. She was more than certain that Chandler was sneaking into Monica's room every single night, especially now that Ross was living with him. She didn't leave her room though or try to catch him, she wanted them to tell her.

She hoped she would have Danny to talk to about this but after their pizza date, he seemed to vanish and she wasn't sure how much she cared. Between her concerns for Ross and her wondering when Monica and Chandler would admit something was going on, she had a lot on her plate.

She lay in her bed, waiting. She heard faint voices in Monica's room. She could walk in there right now and she could catch them but she just couldn't. They were being weirdly secretive, but there was a small part of her that was a little jealous of their secrecy. She wondered if she and Ross would have had an easier time if they had been that quiet. She listened carefully as she soon heard the sounds of shuffling outside. She got up and walked to her door and opened it slightly. She peered out as she saw the backside of someone who looked very much like Chandler, walk out the door and shut it behind him. She let out a sigh as she walked out, towards Monica's room and slowly opened the door. She saw Monica grinning in the dark.

"You two are ridiculous," Rachel said.

"What?" Monica asked, looking at her.

"Was that your secret boyfriend?"

"I don't….come on…."

"Oh, G-d...okay, but can I ask?" Rachel asked walked over to the bed and lay down next to Monica.

"Why do you preface things like that? You're gonna ask regardless of my answer."

"Very true. Okay..who's better in bed-"

"Rachel."

"Play with me. Who is better in bed. Your secret boyfriend or….Kip."

"Oh, secret boyfriend," Monica replied.

"Secret boyfriend or that Jason guy you dated in college?"

"Secret boyfriend."

"Secret boyfriend or Pete."

"Secret boyfriend," Monica said.

"Okay, final one….secret boyfriend or Richard."

"Secret boyfriend," Monica said, knowing her face was bright red. Rachel's mouth dropped.

"Really?"

"Yeah….yeah, so much better. He's amazing. It's good. Oh, it's so good."

"Will you name him?"

"No."

"You know, I sleep in the next room. I'm being good. Last night, I had to pee and I waited until I knew he was gone to go to the bathroom so we wouldn't see each other. I am being amazing."

"I know. Thank you."

"Whatever...fine, I will let you sleep and I hope you had a good bang," Rachel said, getting up and walking towards the door.

"Hey, Rat Face Green," Monica said.

"Yeah, Monicow."

"I think I'm falling in love with him," Monica grinned. Rachel gave a little squeal.

"I have a hunch the feeling is mutual. Good night, Mon. Love you."

"Love you too….good night."

Rachel walked out and went back into her room. Sure, Monica didn't say his name but Rachel knew and it made her happy. She loved that they had both finally found each other, finally figured it out. She was also happy about something else….that bet with Ross? She had been right.